We lost an invaluable member of the Understanding Fido team last week when we helped Elvis cross The Rainbow Bridge. Despite some recent health challenges that we were managing, it felt out of the blue and it was shockingly fast. He hadn’t even celebrated his 7th birthday yet. There was so much more I wanted to learn from---and with---him. As is often the case, the way we envision the future is not what the future actually holds. That said, even in the really hard stuff of recent weeks, there were so many things that went exactly right---for Elvis and for us---and we are grateful.
Thank you to the Fido Family members who were so gracious and supportive when I needed to reschedule appointments to be with Elvis…and to give myself a minute or two to catch my breath after losing my very special Beagley-Basset.
Thank you, Elvis, for shaking off the crappy start you had in life and giving us humans the benefit of the doubt. Thank you for being an invaluable Assistant Trainer in your work with our Fidos who needed to spend some time around a reliable, unflappable dog. Thank you for teaching your sister how to play…to really, actually, fully PLAY without fear. Most importantly, thank you for being my Bestest Boy for the last 4 years. You were, and will always be, so incredibly loved. I’ll see you on the flip side Beagle Face.
Just like with your Fidos, one of the very first things I taught Elvis was the preschool version of “Find”, and we grew it and used it daily in our years together. Four years later, we sat with him on the floor of the hospital and poured out all the love we could as we prepared to send him off. As he took his final Earthly breaths, I stroked his amazing velvet ears, leaned in and whispered, “I love you little man...now go…Find.” I can’t wait to see how far up the learning ladder he takes his skills, and who he’s found and rounded up to greet me when I finally catch up.
(Volume up to enjoy Elvis singing in
How do I get such an enthusiastic recall from across a pasture, mid-visit with her very best friends in the whole world (barn kitties)? By progressing through all the things we do/don't do in your lessons, thoughtfully and consistently. ☺ (sound up)
How's your recall coming along with your Fido?
Confession: due to being so focused on you and your dog when we're together, I have yet to be very successful at taking videos of the small, rewarded, fair asks we make of your dog as she learns her way to any given final product. Heck, it takes a lot for me to remember to get a quick photo of each new friend! 🤦♀️😂 (Side note: New Year's Resolution identified! 🥳)
Anyway---Although these clips are of my Assistant Trainer, Ruby...who already understands the final product...she learned it the same way I introduce(d) it to your dog.
The "WAIT" cue...I'm sure I use it every day in some form or fashion. At a door or gate, getting into/out of a vehicle, encountering a new situation that I need to think about for a second, needing a pause in movement when my dog is 30' away and working up a good tangle in a long line or a bush, entering or exiting a crate/shower/my bed...you get the idea. Too many ways to list. Sometimes I need my dogs to remain behind when I leave an area...sometimes they are asked to continue along with me after the coast is clear...sometimes they are given the nod to continue to forge the "trail" up ahead of me.
Here are a few super quick clips in illustration of just a couple of the ways WAIT could be used in "real life" on a given day, volume up for insight into "timing". (some clips posted in comments as FB is out-smarting my best efforts at tech savvy-ness and creativity this afternoon)
Big thanks to Ruby for participating, despite how much she dislikes paparazzi! ❤
Decorating for Christmas has the potential to be scary for animals. Ruby the LBD (Little Brown Dog) came to us with a lot of fear when we adopted her several years ago. She has gained confidence in leaps and bounds with our thoughtful approach to life with her. One of the strategies we use is that when a new or even potentially scary/previously scary thing happens (preferably at a distance that respects her personal bubble of comfort), we give her a few seconds to notice it/have it register. Then, we introduce something super rewarding to her in order to pair the event/experience with the positive. Before you know it, the new or scary event or situation becomes a happily anticipated event or situation.
Again, decorating for Christmas has the potential to be scary for animals. So, as soon as my hubby starts unwinding the lights to get ready to string, I watch Ruby to make sure she has taken notice. Then I go straight to the stash of frozen lick mats. Ruby spent both nights of tree decoration just a few feet away during the entire process, and once finished with her mat, went straight to the tree to sniff and explore.
(Please excuse the unfinished tree...I took a quick pause to get a clip of Ruby before getting back to work. This year's tree theme...animals. Anyone surprised? ☺)
For those of you who celebrate...how is everyone else's decorating coming along? 🎄🎄🎄
One Beagley-Basset example of some advanced use of the cue "Find".
Loose leash walking. The agreement I have with dogs in my life is that whether you have access to 6' or 60' the fun will continue as long as Pup leaves some slack in the leash. At times, you can't have access to the full 60' because of the crowds at the farmer's market or the meticulously-landscaped lawns of your neighbors, but I will provide you with as much choice as the conditions allow. This was my buddy's 1st outing in new parts of his neighborhood and only the 2nd time he'd been on a leash with me. I shaped and rewarded the behaviors that led to relaxed walking with a loose leash and there was no need to "correct" him at any point...and this was where we landed. Mix in some encouragement to "go sniff" and time to get his "silly on" with a fun toy. Off to an excellent start...and he and I both had a blast!
These two! ❤Ruby & Julius❤
Have you and your Fidos (and maybe your cats who think they are Fidos?) been out enjoying the beautiful Fall days too?
